COLD WAR COUNCIL WAR OFFICE (DARTFORD CIVIC CENTRE)

This location has been on my list to do for a while.

The emergency centre built on the ground floor of Dartfords civic centre was completed in 1991 (just as the Cold War ended). It has some interesting remains.

Behind the wooden entrance door you are greeted with a massive concrete and steel blast door (we do catch a glimpse) also outside the office windows are concrete slabs on the floor.

The caps on top would have been removed and a concrete/steel been would be placed into the protecting the back and from of the main emergency centre.

Also the plant room with its exhaust visible from outside still remains.

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[germany]

another piece of Cold War history. Nice

[hopliteable]

Talk about a perfect synchronise moment there.. lol could only happen to you Ian.. lol

[brunster]

Many older County Council buildings have (or had) regional control centres underneath, all hidden in plain sight.
The TV film "Threads" springs to mind where Council officers and some Councillors make it to the "shelter" and it's organised chaos under the town hall.
A time of pure madness a lot of us just accepted but looking back on it give me the shivers

[realityvanlifeuk]

Really enjoy you blogs and videos guys.cant believe so much ww2 history and cold war stuff in kent!!

[ste]

the police at the door was hilarious haha

[mischef]

Sure have some interesting places up your way guys

[thesamtest]

I have worked in there .removing the generators . Only one blast door remaining now . All windows and doors have been replaced.

[debbiestead]

Short & sweet! Great video lads 😊👍🏻

[L_Llama]

This place is just 3-4 miles from me :) interesting how much stuff is on your doorstep ;-)

[zasmrcaveman]

The basement of my elementary school was a fallout shelter. The siren they put in place for such a nuclear occasion was also used in case of a tornado. Sadly they tore the school down and built a new one over top all of my childhood memories.

[james-]

I wonder if the theatre would let you have a look at the area used as the old bunker?

[jagerpioneer]

But it’s built on top of a railway embankment. It’s completely exposed to any blast. I know Dartford is unlikely to be in any direct path of attack but it seems odd to put it above the ordinary ground level. I hope you get to look inside.

[JCMakerspace]

The look on that dudes faces when he opened the door was priceless.

[raymondgilbert]

Good luck on trying to get in for a look boys

[benjamintaylor-grain]

I heard down the grapevine that there is a similar bunker underneath West Berks Council offices in Newbury, don't know how true this is, so if anyone does know, please let me know. Also if there are any like minded folks around the Newbury area, please give me a shout.

[andstop]

Great work guys another interesting watch

[MrGuvEuroman]

This is amazing!
Imagine The shear importance of the people inside that building!
In a post apocalyptic world we need people to decide when the bins are collected and who would make the park grass cutting decisions 😒

[jimmiddleton]

"Why is there a German videoing our door?!" That was priceless. I needed that laugh, been a tough day 👍

[metalkidk]

was looking at this few months back found the entrance to another bunker right next to dartford train station car park don't know if it's the same one took a bit of climbing and jungle whacking

[Andyb]

There is a very similar set up here in Crawley West Sussex under the town hall. An emergency shelter to maintain a government in the event of nuclear misdeeds.